Penn Township trustee receives award

Hayes plans to run for mayor of Mishawaka in 2007.

Hayes plans to run for mayor of Mishawaka in 2007.

January 10, 2006|PABLO ROS Tribune Staff Writer

Penn Township trustee Michael L. Hayes received the 2005 Trustee of the Year award recently from the Indiana Township Association. The award is given to "a trustee that has excelled above the call of duty and has done exceptional work for his community," said president Deborah Driskell of the ITA. Hayes has been Penn Township trustee for seven years and is planning to run for mayor of Mishawaka in 2007. In 2005, Hayes led the opening of the new Penn Township fire station, helped launch a youth center in downtown Mishawaka and increased assistance to the needy. "The committee was very impressed with Mike's accomplishments," said Driskell, pointing out the youth center as a project that was "found to be impressive and marked a great contribution to the community." Hayes was nominated by Penn Township staff members Kathy Hamilton, Jeff Dean and Sarah Sharp. Recently, Penn Township board members Ron DeWinter, Ken Welsh and Lou Weisweaver expressed approval of the work that Hayes led in 2005. "Personally I am very impressed the way Mike has taken this trustee's job," said board member Ken Welsh. "The office itself is running much more efficiently." Hayes said receiving the award made him feel "absolutely wonderful." He said one of the things he was most proud of accomplishing in 2005 was moving forward in the township's assistance program. "Township assistance is where it should be," he said, "And we are reaching all the people we need to reach." But he also pointed out the teen center, named Studeo 315 and located at 315 Lincoln Way West, which has seen an increase in students recently and gives students "a place where they can hang out." Hayes said he hopes the center will "instill in (students) some traits that would help them be productive members in the community." Hayes, who has been a Penn Township firefighter for 18 years, said the opening of the new fire station was also one of the year's highlights. Running for mayor has been a longtime dream for Hayes, he said, and will allow him "to serve the community more." Hayes said, "Every time you sit around with friends, someone in conversation brings up politics," and it's usually to complain. "I guess rather than be an individual who complains," Hayes said, "I want to be able to make a difference." A native of Mishawaka, Hayes is married to Mary L. Hayes and has two children and one grandchild. Hayes is a member of the Lions Club, BK Club, Penn Township Democratic Club; a board member of the St. Joe County Youth Development Commission; and Vice President of the Indiana Township Association.Staff writer Pablo Ros: pros@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6555